Congestion Charges

January 2011 - Changes to the Congestion Charge Zone

Further to consultation in August 2010, a number of changes have been made to the Congestion Charge zone. They are:

The removal of the area known as the Western Extension of the central London Congestion Charging zone.

An increase in the level of the charge to £10 per day.

The introduction of a new automated payment method: Congestion Charging Auto Pay to allow account holders to be billed automatically for days travelled each month. Account holders will pay only £9 per day.

Removal of the Alternative Fuel Discount. There will be no new registrations but anyone currently registered will continue to receive this discount for 2 years.

Introduction of a new Greener Vehicle Discount for Euro V cars that emit 100g/km of CO2 or less.

A change to vehicles eligible for the electric vehicle discount to include both pure electric vehicles and plug in hybrids that emit 75g/km of CO2 or less.

Alteration to the process of registering for the discount for vehicles with 9 or more seats. In common with all other vehicles registering for a discount, they will need to pay a £10 annual registration fee.

A change to the exemption for Ministry of Defence vehicles to exclude all vehicles belonging to the MoD, in line with new legislation.

Find out more about CC Auto Pay. If you are regularly in the CC Zone you could find this a real saving and will give the peace of mind of not missing a payment.

October 2010 - A Victory for Small Businesses

The FSB has hailed the announcement that the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge is to be scrapped as a victory for small businesses and local residents.

"This is a great victory for small business and for local residents, We called for the scrapping of the extension because we knew the damage it was doing to small businesses. Many have been badly affected by the charge and driven out of business. Business will, however, be shocked that it may be over a year before the scheme disappeared and Transport for London must act as quickly as possible to end the scheme."

However, we remain disappointed with the planned increase of the daily charge from £8 to £10.

"We hope that the Mayor will stand by his original policy and scrap the extension. There is clear evidence that it has done damage to businesses and has not significantly improved air quality." said the FSB's London Policy Chairman Sue Terpilowski.

The FSB strongly opposed the original plan to extend the C-charge zone and commissioned a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research in 2005 which showed that the Western Extension was set to take £250m out of the tills of business and cost the area up to 6,000 jobs.

The FSB has also slammed the suggestion from London First that the congestion zone should be divided in two, with separate charges for the original central London zone and the western extension – resulting in a possible total charge of £12 per day.

"That scheme is not a good idea for London's business communities," said an FSB spokesman. "The congestion charge is already a financial burden on small businesses and there should be no move to raise that burden at a time of increasing economic pressures."

The FSB is pressing for business vehicles to be given the same discount rights as residents. "The C-charge should recognise the difference between a business who have to use a vehicle to move essential goods and services and a commuter or school-run parent whose journey does not have to be made by car."

February 2008 - FSB members welcome end to £25 charge plan

We believe that the issue of air quality is different from that of congestion and should be tackled in different ways;

The proposed £25 charge will be financially punitive to those businesses who need to use a larger car for transporting goods or services.

The proposed charge will be likely to add to the cost of living in London and will result in only a very modest improvement in air quailty.

Summary of the FSB submission on the planned £25 C-charge

"The Congestion Charge fails to recognise the difference between people who choose to use a private vehicle and those for whom a vehicle is essential for their business. That's why the FSB opposes the congestion charge."

Sue Terpilowski, the FSB's London Transport spokesperson

London's biggest business organisation has welcomed the announcement that the new Mayor, Boris johnson, will not proceed with his predecessor's plan to levy a £25 congestion charge on certain types of vehicle.

Mayor Ken Livingstone's proposed increase in the daily Congestion Charge to £25 for certain types of vehicles would have wrecked many businesses who have to rely on vehicles to move goods and services.